A descendant of missionary Hiram Bingham reviews his ancestor's memoir about bringing Christianity and Western civilization to Hawaii in the 1820s-1840s, drawing parallels to modern Effective Altruism and examining what lessons today's do-gooders can learn from this earlier generation of world-savers. Longer summary

This book review examines Hiram Bingham's 1847 memoir about his 21-year mission to Hawaii, drawing explicit parallels between 19th-century missionaries and modern Effective Altruists. The reviewer, Bingham's descendant, describes how seven missionary couples successfully converted most of Hawaii to Christianity, created a writing system, achieved widespread literacy, and introduced Western technology and social reforms. However, Bingham's anti-Catholic political meddling eventually backfired when a French warship forced Hawaii to accept religious freedom and other demands. The review concludes with lessons for modern do-gooders: act with courage, be a moral exemplar, make powerful allies, critically examine your beliefs, and avoid escalating conflicts beyond your control. Shorter summary